The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Crowdfunding kindness boosts search for Bella
Big-hearted donors helping to fund owner’s search for missing terrier
An eight-week search for a missing dog is to benefit from a new crowdfunding campaign.
Cameras and infrared torches will be purchased using the money raised in the appeal, which began on Friday evening.
Bella, a 10-month-old lakeland terrier, vanished while on a walk with her owner in Dundee’s Balgay Park on January 21.
Staff from Dundee City Council’s environmental services department and firefighters dug up part of Balgay Cemetery, while drones took to the skies, all in a bid to locate Bella.
However, two months on, she has yet to be returned to owner Sheila Gaughan.
A major volunteer operation has been under way since January, with regular updates being posted on a Find Bella Facebook page.
Sheila has set up traps to try and catch Bella and regularly visits the area in an attempt to bring her home.
Volunteer Ayner Smith decided to set up a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to widen the scope of the search.
The initial £500 fundraising target was smashed within less than 12 hours of the page being set up, and a new target of £1,000 was established – and quickly surpassed. Sheila thanked those who donated. “I’ve just seen the fundraising page raising money for more cameras and equipment to help find Bella and am totally overwhelmed and humbled by people’s generosity and kindness,” she said on Facebook.
“I have bought about £500-worth of equipment with my own money so far – cameras and torches, as well as paying expenses to people who have given advice and travelled through to help – not to mention all the food I’ve been leaving there every night trying to capture Bella on camera. The foxes and cats think all their birthdays have come at once!
“I intend to donate everything I have bought, once we have found Bella, to a couple of charities who help find lost dogs and who have given their advice and time toward finding Bella.
“The same thing will happen with anything that is bought from the money raised on Ayner’s page.
“Can I just also say Ayner – as well as several others, you know who you are – has been an amazing support to me.
“And so many other people have put in their time and efforts to help me look for Bella. Just want to say a big thank you and just keep doing what you are doing!”
Donations can be made to the campaign at www.gofundme. com/3itji88 and further updates on the search can be found by visiting the Find Bella Facebook page.